Cannibalism in the late Linearbandkeramik?: A critical review of cannibalism at the Herxheim site, mass violence, and its meaning in archaeology

This thesis looks at the late Linearbandkeramik site of Herxheim, southern Germany, dated to c. 5300 – 4950 BCE. At the site, 15,552 bone fragments of c. 1350 individuals have been deposited in a ring enclosure of overlapping pits. The heavily fragmented bone assemblage is interpreted as the remains of multiple human cannibalism episodes in a period of less than 50 years. Some researchers have interpreted the site as a peaceful funerary ritual. However, this thesis argues for the occurrence of cannibalism based on the osteological evidence. The fracturing of the long bones and marrow-rich elements, the underrepresentation of free vertebrae, the presence of cut marks that are consistent with faunal butchering techniques and other sites associated with cannibalism, as well as the presence of chew marks on hand and foot bones are given as indicators for cannibalism. Herxheim is interpreted as a combination of exocannibalism and ritual cannibalism. A postcolonial interpretation of a ...Show moreThis thesis looks at the late Linearbandkeramik site of Herxheim, southern Germany, dated to c. 5300 – 4950 BCE. At the site, 15,552 bone fragments of c. 1350 individuals have been deposited in a ring enclosure of overlapping pits. The heavily fragmented bone assemblage is interpreted as the remains of multiple human cannibalism episodes in a period of less than 50 years. Some researchers have interpreted the site as a peaceful funerary ritual. However, this thesis argues for the occurrence of cannibalism based on the osteological evidence. The fracturing of the long bones and marrow-rich elements, the underrepresentation of free vertebrae, the presence of cut marks that are consistent with faunal butchering techniques and other sites associated with cannibalism, as well as the presence of chew marks on hand and foot bones are given as indicators for cannibalism. Herxheim is interpreted as a combination of exocannibalism and ritual cannibalism. A postcolonial interpretation of a “civilized” Self as opposed to a “barbarous” Other can explain why cannibalism in archaeology remains controversial.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

Cannibalism in the late Linearbandkeramik? A critical review of cannibalism at the Herxheim site, mass violence, and its meaning in archaeology